Competition news

REVIEW: RAYO VALLECANO 0 – DEPORTIVO 1 (FRIENDLY)

07 Aug 2011Seventh victory on the pre-season for a Depor that didn’t show a pretty style, but that left the impression of already being an ordered side ahead of the tough Segunda season. Bruno Gama was the best player in the game and also scored the goal.

Depor was presenting a 4-2-3-1 lineup; keepers Aranzubia and Lux were injured; therefore Fabril’s Marc Martinez had a new chance as a starter. Manuel Pablo was the right-back defender, Ayoze Diaz performed on the left, while the central defenders were Colotto and Aythami Artiles.

At midfield, Jesús Vázquez and Álex Bergantiños were the two pivotes; Bruno Gama played on the right wing, Andres Guardado did it on the left flank, Valerón was the playmaker in the scheme and Riki was the central attacker.

The rival was Rayo Vallecano, the first Primera team faced by Depor on the pre-season. The Madrilenians played with two different lineups in each half; both teams were a mixture of starters with young players. The match was disputed at the Aguilar de Campoo field, located in Avilés (Castilla and Leon) and was part of the ‘trofeo de la galleta’ (cookie trophy). The temperature was around the 16 Celsius degrees and the pitch was in a terrible state, something that affected the game practiced by both teams.

The match was peaceful at the beginning; Deportivo was having the ball possession, but it didn’t have any clear attempt within the first five minutes, actually Rayo Vallecano was the side that had the first approximation. It was on the boots of veteran playmaker José Movilla, who found the ball inside the area to release a shot that Marc cleared to corner-kick (8’). It was a great move of Fabril’s keeper as his view was obstructed by Colotto and Aythami.

The first approximation of Depor in the game was a corner-kick of Guardado that Álex Bergantiños headed out (10’). The Galicians had a lot of problems at the beginning, the state of the grass was terrible and it affected its passing game, while the offside trap strategy used by the Madrilenians was surprising the attacking moves of Riki.

Guardado was pretty active in the first part, but Bruno Gama barely touched the ball within the first twenty minutes; Valerón just appeared in a few opportunities and Riki wasn’t receiving the ball. That’s why Deportivo was a flat team in attack though it never suffered at the back zone.

At minute 24, Depor had its first clear opportunity in the game; Jesús Vázquez began the play and Valerón assisted Riki, who entered inside the area to face keeper Dani Giménez in a one-on-one action, but his final shot hit the body of the keeper and went out; two minutes later Diego Colotto almost score a goal from the midfield circle as he threw a long free-kick, but Dani made the clearance sending the ball over the crossbar.

In the next play Rayo’s new signing Pedro Botello almost score in a counterattack action, but his crossed shot missed the target. And Depor found the goal at the middle of the first half, Jesús Vázquez got the ball at the left wing and sent a long and high cross that Bruno Gama controlled with the chest to end scoring the goal as he chipped the ball over Dani. It is the second goal in the pre-season for the Portuguese winger.

Depor felt more comfortable after the goal and it controlled the actions at midfield, with Álex Bergantiños and Jesús Vázquez commanding the actions, though the Galicians didn’t have more clear opportunities, just a couple of appearances by Riki in which Dani cleared the danger. Meanwhile, Rayo Vallecano was disappeared in attack and its only chance was a header of Montenegrin Andrija Delibasic in a corner-kick, but the striker missed the target (42’)

Rayo Vallecano made eight chances for the second part, while Depor kept the same squad. Still, the Galicians were having the control over the actions. The first chance in the half was a direct free-kick shot of Javi Fuego, but his attempt missed the target (50’); three minutes later Depor broke the defense of Rayo Vallecano through a combination between Álex, Valerón and Riki, but the striker failed in his one-on-one action against keeper David Cobeño.

Three minutes later Bruno Gama beat the offside trap and drilled a pass that Riki found at the edge of the area, but his final shot missed the target. Bruno Gama was definitely the best player on the pitch, despite not been noticed within the first twenty minutes, but later he was pretty active on the right wing and represented the main threat of Depor. At minute 60, the Portuguese winger placed a high cross that almost hit the crossbar, but first Cobeño cleared the danger to corner-kick Three minutes later Ghanaian Alhassane Banguora ‘Lass’ had a chance in a counterattack, but he missed the target.

At minute 65, Manuel Pablo and Bruno Gama combined on the right wing, and the Portuguese ended releasing a high cross that Riki found at the penalty box, but his downward header missed the target. At minute 71, Oltra made eight changes, only Marc Martinez, Álex Bergantiños and Bruno Gama stayed on the pitch.

Marc was the keeper; Diego Seoane performed on the right-back position, Laure did it on the left, while the central defenders were Ze Castro and Rochela. Ruben Pérez joined Álex at midfield, Bruno stayed on the right wing, Salomão was covering the left, Juan Carlos was the playmaker and Pablo Álvarez the attacker.

The true is that the multiple changes were negative for Depor, because in the previous seventy minutes the Galician team dominated the game without too many problems, while during the rest of the match Oltra’s team suffered a lot against a rival that sought for the equalizer until the final minute.

One minute after the modifications, Rochela committed an error and then Miguel Ángel Sánchez ‘Michel got the ball, the centre midfielder ran entering into the area and Ruben Pérez pushed him down, but referee Román Román didn’t whistle the penalty.

At minute 74, Salomão made a solo-play on the left wing that was cleared to corner-kick, it was the only approximation of Depor within the final fifteen minutes. At minute 83, an error between Rochela and Ruben Pérez allowed Michel and ex-Athletic Susaeta to combine at the edge of the area, but this last one sent the ball over the crossbar.

One minute later Senegalese Pape Diamanka attempted a scissors-kick that was stopped by Mark, and the last opportunity in the game was for Rayo as Michel threw a direct free-kick from the right wing that was cleared by Depor’s goalie.

Deportivo didn’t practice a too attractive game, perhaps conditioned by the conditions of the pitch, but at least it left the impression of been an ordered team that awakes the hope of the fans. Bruno Gama was the best player in the game and all appoints that the starting team used on this match, with the exception of the goalkeeper, could be the one that will be used for the opening game at Segunda.

On Wednesday Depor visits Racing de Ferrol (A Malata, 20h00 CET), and then it will face the Teresa Herrera against Sevilla FC (Sunday, 20h00 CET). Then the Galicians will be ready for the Segunda debut against FC Cartagena (August 21).